22 Winners from Six Countries Emerge in the 2nd Round of Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge

22 October 2014
Content from a Premium Partner
GE Africa (Lagos)
press release
  • Each of the 22 winners will receive grants of up to $ 100,000.
  • The challenge has expanded from two to six countries and from six grants to 22 grant recipients.
  • Winners were chosen for demonstrating new business models to deliver sustainable, renewable energy to under-served, marginalized populations.

22 innovators from six African countries have emerged winners of the second round of the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge sponsored by General Electric (GE), United States Africa Development Foundation (USADF) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). They will receive a grant of $100,000 each for initiating off-grid solutions that deploy renewable resources and power socio-economic activities. The initiative is part of Power Africa, the U.S. government-led initiative, to drive growth by increasing access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power and by helping to ensure responsible, transparent and effective management of energy resources.

In November last year, three winners each from Nigeria and Kenya were awarded Six grants totaling $ 600,000. This year, the program has been expanded to include Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana and Liberia. Organizers received about 300 applications from the six countries. Speaking about the awards, Jay Ireland GE Africa President & CEO said, “we are impressed by the response to our call for entries and more so with the caliber of entries especially from the countries that are participating for the first time. This once again demonstrates that with the right support, the people of Africa can develop home-grown solutions for themselves.”

The winning entries provide a diverse array of solutions targeted at rural and urban populations underserved by existing utility companies in the six countries. Jamii Power Ltd from Tanzania’s winnersaims to expand an existing 11-Kilowatt solar mini-grid to 33 kilowatts in capacity to provide electricity to an entire village in Masurura, rural Tanzania. Pfoofy Power & Light Limited in Kisumu, Western Kenya wants to expand its innovative “Ecotran” electric motorcycle pilot, installing two ten-kilowatt service stations to charge 40 electric motorcycles for rural transportation hire. Quintas Renewable Energy solutions Ltd in Nigeria is manufacturing and installing a 500 kilowatt biomass power plant to run on forestry and agricultural residue in Ofosu, Ondo State, Nigeria, benefitting a target population of 230 households, 30 commercial entities, four cottage industries, and four schools.

Already the winners from the first round in Nigeria and Kenya have started impacting their respective communities with energy solutions. Green Village Electricity (GVE) is providing solar powered energy to over 70 homes and hundreds of inhabitants of Egbeke community in Rivers state in the southern part of Nigeria. Indigo another winning company from Kenya is equally using solar energy to provide a system with two lights and cell phone charging capability for a rural community in Kenya (Vicky provide name of community). This system has now replaced the use of kerosene lamps in this community. The final round of the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge will take place next year.

ABOUT GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving, and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com. GE Africa, a subsidiary of General Electric, Inc., delivers innovative technology solutions for regional challenges to help its customers support growth throughout the continent. In particular, GE Energy is providing a host of advanced solutions in water, oil & gas, and energy delivery technologies, with a focus on innovative localized energy solutions. www.ge.com/destinationafrica

ABOUT USADF

USADF, a public corporation in the U.S. federal government, funds African enterprises, cooperatives and community-based organizations to build capacity and expand economic activities. In 18 countries with over 350 project grants, USADF is benefiting more than a million and a half Africans. USADF operates as the only US agency exclusively centered on an African-led, grassroots development model to encourage shared prosperity. ABOUT USAID USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency working to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID provides economic development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States while improving the lives and livelihoods of millions around the world.

Contacts: Victoria Kaigai,

GE Africa, victoria.kaigai@ge.com

(254)701172338

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